PAINT THE TOWN RED: 6 Ways To Wear Your Red Lipstick

Diamonds might be forever, but red lipstick is a girl’s best friend. There’s a reason why the statement red pout never goes out style: it’s classic, versatile and can be worn in so many different ways.

THE PINUP POUT

First it was Rita, Marilyn and Elizabeth; today it’s Gwen, Dita and Angelina who are giving us major bombshell goals with their timeless, pinup-inspired pouts. If you want to up the ante on your next date, it’s as easy as coupling your trustiest red lipstick with a hint of peach blush and a statement cat eye, framed by full-volume falsies.

Tweak it: If a cat-eye is too cut and dry, wear your red lipstick with a soft brown smoky eye and lots of mascara.

Hack it: Afraid your pout won’t last all through the dinner date? Use a liquid lipstick instead for a pigmented, hardworking payoff that won’t let you down.

THE GLOSSY MARY

If this is your first foray into the red-roving cult and you’d prefer something a bit more toned down, you can start subtle: wear a soft glaze rather than a full-coverage coat. With the glossy lip movement growing, you’d also be right on trend. Pair your pout with earthy, coppery brown lids, defined with barely-there liner.

Tweak it: If you’re not afraid to look like a bona fide glazed goddess, switch up the simple brown with a sweep of gloss on your lids as well, using Vaseline Aloe Fresh Petroleum Jelly

Hack it: Need more coverage than a lip gloss or tinted balm? Pat a satin lipstick into the centre of your lips for the same effect.

THE MARSALA MONOTONE

Another one of our favorite comeback trends this year, monotone makeup not only looks effortless, but is easy to achieve. For your next night out, skip the same old smoky eye for a high-def, dramatic all-over marsala. Wear your lip glossy or matte, use the same color on your lids, smoked out at the edges with brown eyeshadow.

Tweak it: If Marsala lids are too much, keep it simple with a mud-red liner on your upper lash-line instead.

Hack it: Are you perpetually walking around with lipstick in your teeth? Put your lips around your pointer finger, apply a little pressure and pull it out to remove any excess color.

THE GLITTER BOMB

If you’re someone who loves to experiment, upgrade your usual red lip with a smattering of glitter. You can either go ombre with a touch of glitter at the centre of your lips, or pack pigment all over. With a statement pout like this, you’re going to want to go easy with the rest of your look. Frame your face with bold, beautiful brows, a neutral flush and nothing else.

THE FRENCH GIRL

French girl beauty is all about being au natural, yet sexy. Some of the biggest power players of the red pout, we can all afford to take a page out of the Parisian’s handbook – bare skin, matte red lipstick and mascara-whipped lashes is all you need. Use a mix of BB cream and moisturizer to get a radiant, barely-there base, and pack on mascara in a zig-zag motion for flirty, spidery lashes.

Tweak it: If you’re a makeup maximalist, add on to the look by stippling black liner as close to your lash line as you can get, and faking a wintery flush with a natural peach blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Hack it:Since your lips are the sole focus of this look, don’t forget to sculpt and define your mouth with a lip liner the same shade as your lipstick. Our favorite is Nicka K’s Auto Lip Liner.

THE COLORBLOCK CRIMSON

The next time you’re going out with the girls, change up your look with a little color play. Just because you’re wearing red lipstick doesn’t mean you can’t add some more pop – a bold, blue liner works as a gorgeous contrast against magenta-red lips. Keep your base simple and neutral, and let your lips and eyes do all the talking.

Tweak it: Another understated way to imbue color without risking clownishness is to skip the liner for a touch of blue mascara, only visible when you bat your lashes.

Hack it: If your lipstick looks a shade different when you put it on, neutralize your lips by patting on concealer before you put it on.